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Tarwangin - Talking To Me - 7 December 2007
Welcome to Tarwangin, a regular newsletter produced by the Department of Indigenous Affairs to provide the latest news and information on issues associated with Indigenous communities.
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WA's Indigenous Employment Forum
A forum designed to find ways of engaging more Indigenous Western Australians in employment was held on Friday 30 November 2007. The Indigenous Employment Forum, announced by Premier Alan Carpenter in August, attracted more than 170 people including Don Voelte from Woodside, Ian Ashby from BHP, Andrew Forrest from Fortescue Metals Group and Richard Goyder from Wesfarmers. Deputy Premier Eric Ripper said that the key to addressing long term disadvantage in Indigenous communities was employment and engagement with the real economy. In recognition of the need for appropriate support and job readiness services, the State Government has recently committed almost $10million for the Indigenous Trade Training Package, which includes funding for job and training readiness support, mentoring and cross-cultural training the workplace. A total of $2million has also been committed for the provision of four mobile Indigenous trade training units to service Indigenous communities in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Central West and Goldfields regions. An additional $3million will be spent on upgrading a range of TAFEWA infrastructure and equipment. This includes $2.4million to improve facilities at the Pilbara TAFE Karratha campus and for new buildings at the Broome and Kununurra campuses.
Land Deal in Hedland builds Joint Future
The Kariyarra Mugarinya Joint Venture signed a landmark agreement with Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan, allocating almost 12ha of prime residential land in Port Hedland to its traditional owners. Under the agreement, the Kariyarra Mugarinya Joint Venture will acquire the Port Hedland land and traditional owners will provide Native Title clearances for other land development in Port and South Hedland to proceed. The agreement is designed to address the town's critical need for housing and will deliver approximately 140 dwellings and provide Indigenous people with a strong stake in the town's future. Ms MacTiernan said the project will also provide training, development and ongoing employment for the Indigenous population. Kariyarra Traditional Owner Raylene Gordon said the agreement is great news for her people and she was pleased with how quickly the agreement had happened. "This is just the beginning, now we can start working to make a stronger future for Kariyarra people and our community," Ms Gordon commented.
Qantas Launches Reconciliation Action Plan
Qantas officially launched its Reconciliation Action Plan on 29 November 2007, becoming only the third Australian major corporate to lodge a formal Indigenous Reconciliation Plan. CEO of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, said Qantas' Reconciliation Action Plan had four specific objectives, which include, doubling Indigenous employment opportunities, improving the involvement of and support for Indigenous staff, assisting Qantas staff to better appreciate Indigenous culture and encouraging Qantas' partners and customers to actively support reconciliation and Indigenous issues. A cadetship program in partnership with WA's Department of Aboriginal Education and Training has already started the process to achieve these objectives. Mr Dixon said the airline would continue to expand its extensive partnerships, which included sponsorship of Indigenous groups and organisations, including Reconciliation Australia, Desert Knowledge Australia, the AFL Kickstart program and Bangarra Dance Theatre. He said the airline would also continue to promote Indigenous culture through the airline's cabin crew and ground staff uniforms, its Aboriginal painted planes and its inflight entertainment programming. Click here for full media release.
Indigenous Communities Harvest Bush Bounty
Indigenous communities on the Kimberley coastline in Western Australia have been working with authorities to gain maximum profits out of this year's harvest of gubinge, (guhBINGE) or bush plum. The highly valuable fruit is used in anti-oxidant tablets, jams, chutneys and cordials, and the industry is emerging as a major source of income for the small communities. Indigenous coordinator for the WA Agriculture Department, Kevin May, says this year they're hoping to make the most out of a bumper crop. "Gubinge is just another added opportunity for Indigenous communities to generate some income for their family groups and you know if we improve the quality and picking practices and grading practices and all of those sorts of things, then the industry is definitely going to improve," commented Mr May.
Gardens Program Aims to Increase Bush Tucker Demand
A new training program that was recently launched by the Western Australian Government aims to increase international demand for Indigenous bush tucker. The Western Australian Government hopes its Community Gardens Program will increase the export quantities of both traditional produce as well as conventional fruits and vegetables grown in the state's north. The program is a joint initiative between the Department of Agriculture and Kimberley TAFE. It is aimed at teaching Kimberley and Pilbara people about plant nutrition, seed development, irrigation methods, business management and marketing practices. Agriculture Minister Kim Chance hopes the program will harness the export potential of produce like the vitamin-rich gubinge. "The qualities that bush plums or gubinge has exhibited, for example, have already aroused international attention, it's a matter of having a supply chain which is competent to deal with an export market," commented Mr Chance.
Bob Coopers Bush Survival Course for Indigenous Children
The Gnaala Karla Booja Traditional Owners Liaison Committee is offering twelve kids between the ages of 13 and 17 years the opportunity to participate in an exciting outdoor experience with a qualified, world renowned Bush Survival expert, Bob Cooper. This 18 day adventure is going to be held over a three month time frame, during school holidays and weekends where participating children will be supported by selected Elders in the community and Bob Coopers' experienced staff. There is no cost to the participants as funding will be provided. The aim of the course is to re-acquaint young Indigenous people with their traditional heritage and skills, enhance their ability to interact with the community, increase their competitiveness in the employment market and raise self esteem. For more information and to obtain an application form, contact Helen Moses on 0488 900 094.
Improving Health and Reducing Recidivism for Indigenous Prisoners
In an Australian first, health researchers met with corrections staff, prisoners advocates and health service providers in Canberra last month to explore ways to improve Indigenous prisoner health and reduce recidivism. The Aboriginal Prisoner Health Roundtable, organised by the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (CRCAH) in conjunction with the Aboriginal Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), aims to identify priority areas which will assist in developing programs to improve Indigenous prisoner health and reduce recidivism. The meeting also explored ways of evaluating successful community driven programs to find out what works best in achieving improved health and reduce Indigenous prison rates. The delegates at the meeting also heard from the Native Counselling Services of Alberta about the successes of Canadian Indigenous people in reducing recidivism rates amongst Canadian Indigenous people through development of discrete and culturally designed programs including what is believed to be the world's first Indigenous run prison. Mick Gooda of CRCAH further commented that the meeting will also start the process of building a broad network of interested organisations and individuals who can share knowledge and work together to progress work in this area.
Stolen Wages Consultation for Perth Metro Area
Having conducted successful visits and consultations through the Pilbara, East and West Kimberley, Murchison/Gascoyne, Goldfields, Peel, South West and Great Southern regions of WA recently, public consultations on Stolen Wages in the Perth metro area will commence on Monday, 10 December 2007. Consultations will be held in Armadale, Karawara, Mirrabooka, Fremantle, Kwinana and Midland and will conclude in Perth on Thursday 13 December 2007. The extensive statewide consultation on Stolen Wages is the first phase of the project to investigate the scope and extent of the matter in Western Australia. The Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) is managing the consultation and investigation of Stolen Wages. For more information and exact times and dates for the Peel, South West and Great Southern consultations please call 1800 221 883 or visit DIA's website here.
Expressions of Interest for the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee
The Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee (ACMC), established under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, advises the Minister for Indigenous Affairs in matters relating to Aboriginal Heritage. The Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) would like to hear from people from different parts of the Western Australia with knowledge and experience of Aboriginal Heritage matters, including specialist expertise who can make a contribution to the recognition and protection of the State's Aboriginal Heritage. Areas of specialist expertise can include archaeology, anthropology and ethnography. The Minister appoints members who can contribute meaningfully to the monthly meetings of the ACMC. Expressions of Interest are welcomed and must be received before Friday, 21 December 2007. For more information please contact ACMC Executive Officer, Ms Christine Lewis, on 1300 651 077 or 9235 8000.
Disability Workers Urgently Required
The Disability Services Commission is looking for mature Indigenous people who may be interested in a training opportunity with the Commission's Accommodation Services, providing direct acre support to people with disabilities. An information session will be held on Wednesday, 12 December 2007 at Derbarl Yerrigan. Anyone interested in attending please RSVP to Jim Morrison on 9426 9718.
New Indigenous Studies Centre for Notre Dame University
The University of Notre Dame Australia will establish a Centre for Indigenous Studies in 2008 at its Broome campus. The university says it will have a 'whole of university approach' that recognises and builds on existing commitments to Indigenous education. The centre will focus on teaching, research, cultural outreach and cultural training with an aim to promote and integrate the mission of 'reconciliation across all campuses.' Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Broome campus, Sr Sonia Wagner commented that the centre will help in creating new partnerships across the university that will strengthen and extend the Broome campus mission to promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples of Australia. The establishment of the centre will correspond with the launching of the Bachelor of Arts (major in Aboriginal studies) course on the Broome campus in 2008.
UWA's Aboriginal Pre-Law Course
Applications are now open for anyone interested in studying Aboriginal Pre-Law course in 2008 at the School of Indigenous Studies at the University of Western Australia. The course is an intensive five week full time study. This program was the first Pre-Law program in Australia and has been very successful in increasing the number of Indigenous lawyers. The course commences on 14 January 2008 and applications to study closes on 17 December 2007. For more information contact Mel Thomas on 6488 3428 or visit the website here.
Feedback on Tarwangin Newsletter
The Public Affairs team at the Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) would like to hear any feedback from all our Tarwangin readers and subscribers. If you would be able to spend a few minutes sending through your opinions and thoughts on DIA's weekly newsletter, it would be very much appreciated. Your feedback is very important to DIA in order for us to improve and enhance the Tarwangin newsletter. Please email Public Affairs for any comment you would like to make. Thank You.
NAIDOC Perth Meeting
If you are interested in helping the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) in Perth, you are invited to attend NAIDOC Perth meeting on Monday 10 December 2007 between 12.30pm and 2pm at Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service. The committee is looking for active members to attend monthly meetings and assist with NAIDOC events. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to be involved, please email your interest here. For more information visit the NAIDOC Perth website here.
Positions Vacant at DIA
The Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) has a few vacancies for anyone interested in applying for the positions of Project Officers for Heritage, Aboriginal History Research Unit and assisting in the development of the Reconciliation Action Plan. For more information on each position please visit the DIA website here.
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